GSA Technology Council

BigBlueHat is announcing the immediate availability of version 2 of the BlueInk Content Management System (CMS).

BlueInk is BigBlueHat’s flagship product. BlueInk gives ordinary people hassle-free, in-browser control over their web site’s content. Through a simple, innovative interface the site owner can edit and organize text, photos, contact information, and other components—all while viewing the site.

During the creation of BlueInk version 2, BigBlueHat received valuable feedback from several upstate businesses, entrepreneurs, and web technologists. BigBlueHat continues to use feedback gleaned from current and potential customers as it makes pivotal decisions about the future of its product.

BlueInk is available via BigBlueHat’s website as new template-based site, a web site conversion, or through the purchase of BigBlueHat’s design files to code service. BlueInk is sold on a software-as-a-service, so web site owners enjoy free upgrades to the software.

BigBlueHat is a web-manufacturing company that creates custom web sites and web-based software for clients around the world. Its chief product is the BlueInk CMS, a proprietary content management system that accommodates both the designer and the end user with an easy-to-use interface.

via: Big Blue Hat

Because Furman University history professor Lloyd Benson managed to take his students on a guided tour of Boston and New York City without them ever leaving the classroom, the university is among a select group of colleges and universities to be honored with a 2008 Campus Technology Innovator award.

Furman is one of 14 schools nationwide to receive the award fromCampus Technology magazine.  The winners were selected from 275 nominations from across the country.

Benson was teaching his Urban History class at Furman in the spring of 2007 when he was scheduled to attend academic conferences in Boston and New York.  Since the class had been studying the history of those two cities, Benson decided to give his students back at Furman a virtual walking tour while he was there.

Armed with universally available technologies, including GPS, a digital camera, Google Maps and a cell phone, Benson transmitted images back to the classroom and talked about the places he was visiting.  As he walked through each city, images of his current location would be uploaded and would mark his location on a Google Earth map.  He even let the students decide what they wanted to see next on the tour.  And, with the help of Furman’s Computing and Information Services and Center for Teaching & Engaged Learning, he did it all on a $1,000 budget.

“The students really enjoyed it,” said Benson, the Walter Kenneth Mattison Professor of History at Furman.  “It was really valuable for them to see some of the historical areas we had been talking about, while developing a more accurate sense of their space and scale.  It was a fun way to enhance what they had learned in class.”

Benson said he toured the area from Faneuil Hall to the Boston Common while visiting Boston and the City Hall Park and Lower East Side areas while in New York.

In announcing this year’s 14 Campus Technology Innovators, Campus Technology editor Katherine Grayson singled out Furman as one of two of two schools who best exemplified “an instructor’s use of technology to bridge the ‘human’ distance between student and teacher.”  She wrote that Benson had “foregone the classic history slide show in favor of traipsing through historical sites around the country with his students electronically in tow.”

Benson will teach his Urban History class again this fall, and said he plans to provide his students with more virtual walking tours, this time of New Orleans and Louisville, Ky.

via Furman

ElevenTen Color, a supplier of wide-format inkjet consumables, announced Thursday the launch of its fully-functional and interactive Web site that improves the availability of product information, support and ICC profiles.

The restructured Web site, www.eleventencolor.com, is divided into product portals and allows users to conveniently navigate between Solvent Ink, Wide-Format Media and Technical Support. The site features helpful tools that include:

• ICC Profile Selector
• Online Solvent Ink Warranty Registration
• Reseller Locator

The portfolio of ElevenTen Color non-OEM ink cartridges are compatible with most low and mid-range solvent printers. A wide-range of high-quality aqueous and solvent inkjet media is available at an economical price. Both ink and media products are supported by an experienced technical service group.

Other Files accessible for download include Media Compatibility Guides, Solvent Compatible Product Information, Solvent Ink Conversion Guides, Solvent Ink Material Safety Data Sheet, Solvent Ink Technical Data Sheets and Solvent Ink Warranty Documentation.

via ElevenTen Color

KEMET Corporation today announced that it has sold its Wet Tantalum assets to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. for $35.2 million and other consideration in the form of a three-year term loan of $15 million. Sales generated by these assets during the Company’s fiscal-year ended March 31, 2008 were approximately $16.0 million and $4.4 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2008. Closing is scheduled to occur by the close of business today.

“During our process of exploring various alternatives for repositioning our capital structure, we were able to complete this transaction at an opportune time to allow the Company to use the proceeds of the asset sale and loan to redeem its outstanding Senior Notes with an outstanding principal balance of forty million dollars in an expeditious manner. This transaction will allow us to reduce our total debt outstanding; however, we are continuing to pursue financing alternatives that might provide greater flexibility and liquidity for the future compared to our current capital structure. We have also identified certain non-core assets that will be held for sale that are not in line with the Company’s strategic direction,” said Per Loof, KEMET’s Chief Executive Officer. “Regarding our current operating environment, we believe in our plans for building our business. The integration efforts are on track, we continue to service our customers globally, and I am confident that the integration and restructuring actions we have taken will improve our results. I can now redirect my focus to helping KEMET leverage its position as the “easy-to-buy-from” capacitance company. We believe there are many opportunities to build market share in areas where we see real potential for growth such as the emerging green technologies,” continued Loof.

KEMET will provide Vishay with certain manufacturing and other services during a transition period. Terms of the secured loan of $15 million to KEMET from Vishay include: a three-year non-amortizing maturity, an interest rate of LIBOR plus four percent, security consisting of accounts receivable currently in the amount of approximately $34 million, and certain limited events of default.

KEMET Corporation delivers high-performance capacitance solutions to customers around the world. KEMET offers the a complete line of surface-mount and through-hole capacitor technologies across tantalum, ceramic, film, aluminum, electrolytic, and paper dielectrics.

via KEMET

Customer Effective, and implementer of Microsoft Dynamics CRM today announced that its client Equinox was awarded the 2008 Gartner & 1to1 Customer Award at the Gartner CRM Summit on Sept. 8, in Washington, D.C. Equinox was recognized as the winning company in the Sales Optimization category, which identifies organizations that have excelled in the use of sales force automation.

“Receiving the Customer Award for outstanding sales optimization demonstrates Equinox’s commitment to being a world class sales organization through the impeccable management of our members’ experience,” said Jeff Grayson, CIO of Equinox Fitness. “We are pleased with the results of our CRM system and honored to be recognized for our achievements.”

Gartner, the leader in information technology research and 1to1 Media, the authority in customer strategy, jointly established the Gartner & 1to1 Customer Awards to highlight companies for outstanding strategy, technology and execution in delivering a customer experience that creates value both for the customer and the enterprise.

“Equinox’s success indicates the benefits CRM provides to a variety of industries,” said Scott Millwood, CEO of Customer Effective. “With Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Equinox enhanced its overall sales efforts with easy-to-use tools that guide sales advisors through qualification steps during the interview process. CRM capabilities coupled with Equinox’s commitment to excellent member service have improved its sales environment, benefiting both the company and its members. We are pleased to be a part of their success and excited for their recognition by industry leaders.”

via Customer Effective

People seek to build strong personal relationships because most work gets done in small critical networks of trusted colleagues. While the Internet is a powerful new tool for building relationships globally, many people are becoming overwhelmed with a deluge of information. There is a growing demand for a simple, intuitive tool to help manage and grow the in person and online aspects of critical networks.

Swamp Fox has built one of the country’s largest innovation communities, with diverse participation from industry, academia, entrepreneurs, investors, and service providers. Jute Networks has created a leading technology platform to help individuals manage their critical networks, with a particular strength in the visualization of relationships.

John Warner, founder of Swamp Fox, said, “Today at Carolina Connect in Asheville, NC we are announcing the merger of Swamp Fox and Jute into a combined company called Jute Networks, which will manage the Swamp Fox Community and market the Jute NRM software. The Swamp Fox Community will be tied together with Jute. Our combined strengths position Jute to among the first to market and to become the leader of the fast growing network relationship management market.”

The Jute team will include Swamp Fox principals, John Warner and Butler Mullins, and the founders of Jute Networks, Sean McDonald and Matt Raker.

“Matt and I have always strived to work with the best of the best, and we know that John and Swamp Fox bring the talent, experience and resources necessary for Jute Networks to capitalize on an exceptional opportunity,” said Sean McDonald. “This merger is good news for Matt and me, our investors, and the region’s entrepreneurial community.”

via Swamp Fox

The Upstate Carolina Linux Users Group (UCLUG) will be hosting an event at the Hughes Main Library in downtown Greenville on Saturday September 20th from 10am-3pm to celebrate Software Freedom Day 2008! Those who are interested are encouraged to bring old (and new) computers to have UCLUG members install Linux on them.  The group will also be giving away a free linux running computer (hint: show up early for chance to win) and Linux “Live Cds.”

Software Freedom Day is a yearly celebration of Software Freedom and why it is important. UCLUG hopes to educate the public about these issues at the event. Anyone is invited to come out to the event for a fun-filled day with giveaways, games, and information! 

Contex Americas, a developer of wide-format scanning and imaging solutions, today announced its appointment of Tekgraf Corporation as the exclusive authorized Contex brand distributor for North America. This move is intended to unify the Contex/Vidar channel and to improve distribution and customer service to both Contex and Vidar dealers in the North American market.

Tekgraf will now hold inventory for both the Contex and Vidar brands. This new arrangement will enable larger amounts of scanner stock to be held in the United States, and is expected to reduce or eliminate stock shortages while improving delivery times. Additionally, this arrangement offers Contex dealers easy access to additional wide-format products and services from Tekgraf, providing additional sources of revenue.

The Contex Americas sales staff will be organized to support all Vidar and Contex dealers, regardless of which brand they represent.

“We are very pleased to partner with Tekgraf as our exclusive distributor. We’re confident that the combined strengths, service expertise and talent of our two companies will deliver a positive experience for dealers and end-customers alike,” said Phil Magenheim, President and COO of Contex Americas.

Tekgraf’s headquarters are located in Greenville, SC.

via Tekgraf

The InnoVision Technology Awards program, founded in 1999 and presented by McNair Law Firm, P.A. recognizes and honors Upstate businesses, individuals and organizations that have demonstrated significant advancements in the areas of innovation and technological progress. The InnoVision Technology Awards Advisory Board today announced the finalists for the 2008 InnoVision Technology Awards.

Innovision 2008 Finalists

Technology Application

• Innegrity, LLC


• Optek Systems, Inc.


• Sealed Air Corporation


• Techtronics Industries North America

Technology Development

• Flora and Associates, LLC


• Michelin Americas Research and Development Company


• Zipit Wireless, Inc.

Innovation in Education

• Carolina First Center for Excellence


• Furman University

Small Enterprise

• CreatiVasc


• Gnoso, Inc.


• iTography, LLC


• KeyMark, Inc.

Community Service

• Enallage Communications, LLC


• Susan G. Komen for the Cure


• Urban League of the Upstate

Winners will be named at the 2008 InnoVision Technology Awards Dinner at the Carolina First Center on November 19, 2008. The achievements of finalists and winners will be highlighted in videos at the event. The recipient of the Dr. Charles Townes Award will also be announced at the Awards Dinner.

“This year was an outstanding year for applications with many first class companies and entries. Our judging committee was very impressed with the variety of creative and innovative entries. I am sure that our Awards Dinner on November 19, 2008 at the Carolinas First Center will be another great event. We are also excited with this years keynote speaker who we will announced shortly.” Doug Kim, InnoVision Advisory Board Chair.

via: Innovision Awards

The Greenville Area Development Corporation, the South Carolina Department of Commerce and Deltex Medical Group PLC have announced the expansion of the company’s North American operations in Greenville, South Carolina, including the addition of 10-20 jobs over the next 2 years, as part of Deltex Medical’s strategic growth initiatives in North America.

Founded in 1989 in Chichester, West Sussex, England, Deltex Medical produces medical monitors that help patients recover more fully and quickly from the effects of major surgery. The use of Deltex Medical’sCardioQ esophageal Doppler monitor reduces complications and shortens lengths of hospital stay associated with surgery. The CardioQ is used to ensure that patients receive the right amount of the right fluid at the right time during their surgery (known as Targeted Volume Management, or TVM).

Deltex Medical’s CardioQ monitor works toward improving patient outcomes and reducing length of hospital stay,which has been demonstrated in repeated, rigorously controlled clinical trials. A US Government-commissioned technology assessment published early in 2007 stated that its use in surgery leads to a “clinically significant reduction in major complications”, “a clinically significant reduction in the total number of complications” and “to a reduction in hospital stay”. At this time all Deltex Medical products are researched, developed and manufactured in the U.K.

The Greenville operation initially will provide sales, marketing and clinical training support to U.S.-based customers, primarily hospitals and medical centers, according to Andy Hill, CEO for Deltex Medical. New capital investment in the domestic operation is estimated at $2 million, and Hill expects the Greenville operations to generate “substantial sales revenues within two years, with significant opportunity to grow from there.”

The CardioQ’s unique value derives from its ability to measure blood flow in real time with every heartbeat. Blood flow is an earlier and more sensitive indicator of changing or deteriorating cardiac and circulatory performance than blood pressure. Following extensive trials, the U.S. government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ruled the technology “reasonable and necessary” for patients having surgery or in intensive care on a breathing machine, thus paving the way for reimbursement of doctors using the technology.

“Clinical studies have repeatedly demonstrated that Targeted Volume Management using the company’s CardioQ monitor results in significant reductions in complications associated with surgery and up to 30-40% reductions in the length of hospital stays,” said Hill. “Deltex Medical expects that the CardioQ monitor will become a global standard of care for patients at risk from haemodynamic compromise.”

“Our vision is to establish the Greenville County operations to serve our rapidly expanding customer base here in North America, then to grow into additional markets over time,” said Hill.

“The Greenville operation will focus on delivering outstanding customer service, clinical training, and just-in-time delivery of the CardioQ monitor and the disposable esophageal probes used with it to our customers in the USA” Hill added. “We are excited to establish operations here in Greenville County, and very appreciative of the support and leadership of the Greenville Area Development Corporation and Department of Commerce in making this announcement a reality.”

The operations initially will be situated in an existing facility located at 330 E Coffee Street in the heart of Greenville and will include additional capital investment of approximately $2 million to “optimize productive sales and training,” said Hill, who joined the company in 2002 and was appointed CEO in January 2003.

“Ultimately, it was the positive economic climate of South Carolina and the dedicated efforts of the area’s economic development teams that helped cinch the decision to establish operations here,” said Hill. “We considered multiple sites in the Southeast, yet we decided on this area for its balance of economic opportunity, quality of life, access to talent, and central location to a growing customer base,” said Hill. “We see an incredible opportunity in South Carolina for Deltex Medical.”

“Deltex Medical produces high-tech medical monitors used by health care professionals to help patients recover more quickly from surgery. The company’s decision to locate here is a strong testament to the state’s business-friendly environment and the strength of our workforce. Deltex’s investment will bring quality, high-paying job opportunities to residents of the Upstate. Thanks to the team effort of state and local officials, Greenville County will benefit from this investment now and in the future,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.

“Deltex Medical’s decision to establish North American operations here is further validation of the attractiveness and economic vitality of this area,” commented H.G. “Butch” Kirven, Jr., chairman of Greenville County Council. “Their global focus and significant growth potential affirms that Greenville County continues to be a center of opportunity for international businesses. We’re pleased to have them here in Greenville County.”

“Deltex is a great example of how a company that combines world-class medical technology with an Upstate base can grow their business in North America,” said Jay Rogers, Chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation Board. “The company is research-based, innovative and growth-oriented, and a wonderful reflectio n of the opportunities to be found in Greenville County and South Carolina.”

via GADC